Configure VNets, secure access, name resolution, and load balancing.
Covers virtual networks, peering, public IPs, secure access via NSGs and Bastion, DNS configuration, and load balancing solutions.
5 minutes
5 Questions
Implementing and managing virtual networking is a critical competence for the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification, serving as the foundational layer for all cloud operations. This domain focuses on configuring Azure Virtual Networks (VNets) to create logically isolated environments where resources can securely communicate. Administrators are responsible for designing IP addressing schemes, implementing subnetting strategies to segment workloads, and assigning Network Interface Cards (NICs) to Virtual Machines.
Connectivity extends beyond individual networks. Administrators must manage VNet peering to enable low-latency communication between networks across regions and subscriptions. To integrate on-premises infrastructure, they deploy Virtual Network Gateways for Site-to-Site or Point-to-Site VPNs and manage ExpressRoute circuits for dedicated private connections. Additionally, configuring Azure DNS for internal and public name resolution is a key requirement.
Security is paramount in this domain. Administrators must enforce traffic filtering using Network Security Groups (NSGs) and Application Security Groups (ASGs) to define strict allow and deny rules based on IP tuples and protocols. Securely exposing PaaS services, such as Azure SQL, is achieved through Virtual Network Service Endpoints and Azure Private Link, eliminating exposure to the public internet.
Traffic management involves configuring User-Defined Routes (UDRs) to control packet flow—often to route traffic through virtual network appliances—and deploying load balancing solutions like Azure Load Balancer (Layer 4) and Application Gateway (Layer 7). Finally, the role demands the use of Azure Network Watcher to monitor network health, diagnose connectivity issues, and analyze flow logs, ensuring the architecture remains robust, secure, and performant.Implementing and managing virtual networking is a critical competence for the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification, serving as the foundational layer for all cloud operations. This domain focuses on configuring Azure Virtual Networks (VNets) to create logically isolated environments…